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| Seven Egypt security force hostages 'freed' in Sinai | Seven Egypt security force hostages 'freed' in Sinai |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Seven members of the Egyptian security forces abducted in the Sinai peninsula have been freed, officials say. | Seven members of the Egyptian security forces abducted in the Sinai peninsula have been freed, officials say. |
| The men were seized while travelling in minibuses in northern Sinai, east of the city of El Arish. | The men were seized while travelling in minibuses in northern Sinai, east of the city of El Arish. |
| On his Facebook page, the army's official spokesman said the release was due to "the efforts of military intelligence" and local tribal elders. | On his Facebook page, the army's official spokesman said the release was due to "the efforts of military intelligence" and local tribal elders. |
| The peninsula has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in 2011. | The peninsula has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in 2011. |
| Army spokesman Col Ahmed Ali said the seven men were on their way to Cairo. | Army spokesman Col Ahmed Ali said the seven men were on their way to Cairo. |
| Crossings closed | |
| Egyptian troops had launched a sweep of north Sinai on Tuesday. | |
| On Monday, President Mohammed Morsi had ruled out negotiating with the captors, saying there was "no room for dialogue with the criminals". | On Monday, President Mohammed Morsi had ruled out negotiating with the captors, saying there was "no room for dialogue with the criminals". |
| The abductions had prompted angry police to shut down border crossings with Gaza and Israel until the hostages were released. | |
| While the identity of their captors is unclear, reports had suggested they were jihadist militants. | |
| Islamist militants in northern Sinai have used the lack of central authority to carry out attacks across the border into Israel. | |
| There have been several incidents in which Western tourists and other foreigners have been kidnapped in the peninsula. | |
| Egyptian Bedouins have used hostage-taking to press for the release of jailed tribesmen they say have been sentenced unfairly on charges ranging from terrorism to drug dealing. |